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Dry detention basin planted with native grasses and yellow wildflowers along a roadside greenway designed for stormwater management and pollinator habitat.
Pale Purple Coneflower clump in meadow
Golden Alexander with yellow flowers blooming
False Sunflower close up in prairie meadow
Canada Wildrye seed heads bunch
Big Bluestem in prairie
Dry detention basin planted with native grasses and yellow wildflowers along a roadside greenway designed for stormwater management and pollinator habitat.
Pale Purple Coneflower clump in meadow
Golden Alexander with yellow flowers blooming
False Sunflower close up in prairie meadow
Canada Wildrye seed heads bunch
Big Bluestem in prairie

Dry Detention Basin

Seed Mixes

1000 Sq. Ft. $45.00
1/4 Acre $150.00
1/2 Acre $300.00
3/4 Acre $450.00
1 Acre $600.00

Description

The Dry Detention Basin native seed mix is designed for stormwater basins, swales, and other areas with fluctuating moisture. This blend of native wildflowers, grasses, and sedges adapts to both wet periods after storms and dry spells in between, creating a resilient, low-maintenance planting. Ideal for stormwater management, habitat restoration, and functional landscaping, it improves water quality while enhancing biodiversity.

Thriving in full to partial sun and mesic to wet soils, this mix provides multiple ecological benefits. Deep-rooted species stabilize soil and improve water infiltration, while moisture-tolerant wildflowers add seasonal beauty and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Key species include Swamp Milkweed, New England Aster, and Switchgrass, which bring both resilience and visual appeal.

For areas that remain wet year-round, consider our Rain Garden Mix as a more suitable option.

Seed Details

Weight 1 lbs
Dimensions 12 × 12 × 12 in
Kind

Seed Mixes

Items - Seed Mixes

1000 Sq. Ft., 1/4 Acre, 1/2 Acre, 3/4 Acre, 1 Acre

Sun Requirements

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Soil Moisture

Mesic, Wet-Mesic, Wet

Height

7-8 Feet

USDA Zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8

Bloom Colors

Yellow, Blue, Purple, Pink, White

Flowering Period

Spring, Summer, Fall

Lifespan

Biennial, Perennial

Range Map

Seed Mix range map. This blend works best in zones 4 through 8.

Click to open in new tab.

Composition

Dry Detention Basin Seed Mix Composition
Common Name (Latin Name) % by Weight
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) 13.1
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) 6.5
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) 7.3
Virginia Wildrye (Elymus virginicus) 18.8
Canada Wildrye (Elymus canadensis) 16.5
Fowl Bluegrass (Poa palustris) 0.9
Green Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens) 0.4
Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) 0.9
Short’s Sedge (Carex shortiana) 0.1
Sweet Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) 1.8
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) 0.9
Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) 4.4
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) 0.3
Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) 0.0
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) 0.4
Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) 0.1
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) 0.3
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 1.8
Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) 1.6
False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) 10.4
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) 9.8
False Aster (Boltonia asteroides) 0.3
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) 0.7
Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) 0.1
Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) 1.7
Seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia) 0.1
Prairie Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) 1.0

Print (opens in new tab): 2024-2025 Dry Detention Basin Seed Mix

Details

Lbs/Acre12.23
PLS/Square Foot68
Best ForContractors, Pollinators
Mix ContainsForbs, Grasses, Sedges
Sun RequirementsFull Sun, Partial Sun
Soil MoistureMesic, Wet-Mesic, Wet
BenefitsBees, Birds, Hummingbirds, Insects, Pollinators
Max Height7-8'
USDA Zones4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Bloom ColorsBlue, Pink, Purple, White, Yellow
Flowering PeriodFall, Late Spring, Summer
LifespanBiennial, Perennial

Seeds & Seed Mixes:

Seeds and seed mixes ship nationwide, year-round, typically within 3–5 business days. If you would like to postpone a seed mix shipment until fall, please note this at checkout.

Live Plants:

Live plants are available year-round while inventory lasts and ship to all states except California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Alaska, and Hawaii. After your order is placed, we’ll contact you to coordinate a spring shipping window, as many plants are overwintered and ship once dormancy breaks.

Estimated shipping for 2026 plant orders begins in mid-April, weather permitting.

If you’re looking to secure plants in advance or need larger quantities for a project, we offer contract growing options. Contact us to discuss your needs and request a quote. Additional species not listed online may also be available through contract grow.

Live Stakes:

Live stakes are available by request only and must be ordered by submitting a contact form. Ordering is open seasonally from November 1 through February 28. A minimum of 100 stakes per order is required, with at least 25 stakes per species.

Live stakes ship only to the following states: Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa.

PLS stands for Pure Live Seed, an industry-standard measure of seed quality. It reflects the portion of seed in a batch that is viable and capable of germinating.

What this means for you: when you purchase 1 lb. of PLS seed, the physical weight of the seed you receive will be slightly more than 1 lb. That’s because we account for non-viable seed and natural inert material upfront, so you receive a full pound of live, plantable seed.

Many companies sell bulk seed by total weight, which can include filler and non-viable seed. By pricing based on PLS, we make sure you’re getting exactly what you paid for—high-quality native seed with more predictable, successful germination.

Want to dive deeper? Check out our in-depth article on what PLS is and why it matters.